THE GARDEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 352, 20 March 1889, Page 6

THE GARDEN.

[By Hoktus.]

Kitchen Garden. Eveiiy advantage should be takeh of the fine weather to get all vacant pieces of ground into good order so thab the usual autumn ciops may bo planted or sown immediately alter we receive the first heavy lams. The break for the sbrawbeny, patch, if not aheady iranured- and dug, should be so treated at once so as tcTjict it well sweetened botoie it in planted. Plant the strawberry plants as soon as che fiist heavy rain comes. Onions properly diied should be tied in bunches and hung up to the rafters in a cool a : ry shed, whero they will keep best. Cabbages and cauliflowers : Plant out another patch ; give plenty of water; earth up those thab aie growing. Lettuce : Plick out another small bed and tie up advance plants for blanching. Celery : (Jive plenty of water and earth as may be required. Be careful when tieing up the ioiiage to give plenty of room for swelling. Make another trench for late crop. Leeks : Give plenty ot liquid manure and earth up. Tomatoes : Look well to the pinching back and tieing up of the fruiting shoots to the support?, and give liquid manure occasionally. As soon as the fruit colouis pick it ofl ; it will ripen as well on a shelf in the houso as on the plants. Cucumbers, pumpkins, marrows, etc. : Kcgulatc and pinch back supeifluous shoots, : and give wafer frequently. Melons should be ksp 1 } moderately diy : too much water will make the llavonr of the fruit rank and strong. Where fruit is pietty well developed place a small flower pot en the ground, place a piece of slate on this, then eaietully place the fruit on the slate. Thh will lift it above the foliage to where it will receive more of the sun's rays, which will cause it to ripen quicker and better. Any piece of ground to be trenched should now be attended to during the diy weather. Place as much manure as possible between the two layers of soil in the tiench. New fresh manuie from the stables is the best, a3 it will give forth a little heat and will assist in pulverising the soil. What is called bastard trenching is the best where the soil has only been broken up one spit deep before, as this system will leave all the present surface on the top. Wheie the soil has been pie\iously trenched it will be better to bung v>p some of the sub soil to the surface, also going a little deeper than the previous trenching. To carry on a good supply of vegetables during the summer months trenching must be more generally adopted in the future than in the past. Stir with the hoe the surface soil between the rows of all growing crops, and earth up those which requhe this system of cultivation. All debris ofplants, etc., should be placed in the rot heap. As it is placed there sprinkle with lime and salt. Where there is any debiis fiom branches of trees or what will not lot readily, this should be burned, and the ashes allowed to get cool ; then these should be spread over the rot heap. Where the rubbish in the rot heap ie? six months old (or over) it should now be turned over and allowed to stand for a few weeks before being dug into the ground for manure. Where possible after turning give a good soaking of water.

Flower Garden. Plenty of water will have been required to keep up a fair supply of flowers dining the dry hot weather that we have experienced for the lasb two weeks. Gladiolus bulbs ripened off, lift and dry in the sun for about a week or so before storing past tor the winter ; also plant out a few bulbs of 'inferior varieties in order to have a succession of flowers. Begin to plant out a few of the early spring floweiing bulbs and tubers. In the place wheie the bulbs are planted put in a little good rich compost : it will afcbist in the production of better flowers. Dahlias will require plen'y of water. Stake and pinch back superfluous shoots. Chrysanthemums : Sec that these are properly staked and tied. Plenty of water should be given them ; also a litt'e liquid manure occasionally. To grow these flowers well they require liberal treatment. Flower buds should be thinned if large flowers are desired, leaving only a few on each shoot. Cockscombs, bal&ams, portulaca, zinia, etc., are still producing flowers in abundance. Give liquid manure about once a week and stir the surface soil occasionally ; keep e\ery thing in the mixed border in a neat, tidy condition. Bedding plants will still be in good condition. See that they receive plenty of water. Now is the bebt time ot year to arrange for ne>.t years lequiretnents, as most of the bedding plants arc now in flower. It will be easily seen what colours will suit the taste and what also stand our climate best. An estimate should now be made as to what number of plants will bo required for the beds next season. A bed should be prepared in a cool, shady place lor putting out the cuttings towards the end of this month. Camellia*, lhododendrons and azaleas should be kept pretty moist, giving a little liquid mamue ; ib will a&sisb in forming the fio\i cr buds. Azaleas should be syringed heavily ; this will keep thrips under. Frequently b:eak up the surface soil in the beds and boideis. . Breaking up the surface acts the same as a mulch and keeps the loots of plants moi&ter and cooler. Evergreen hedges should now be clipped, as this will give a chance for the production ot fresh shoots making before the winter sets in. Lawns : Cut the grass frequently, and use plenty of water to keep them in good condition. Make preparations for the annual top-dressing, which should be given during the middle or end of next month. Where a stock ot manure has to be obtained for manuring the flower borders this autumn it should be got at once, placed in a heap and watered K)'as to get it well heated. It will then be in capital condition forworking into the soil during April or May.

Greenhouse. Continue gning plenty of .water every evening, using liquid manure for stronggrowing plants. Plenty of air should be given during the day, also shading during the hottest part. B.c-pot such plants as may require moie pot room. Cinerarias: Pick out from seed pans as soon as they are large enough to handle ; give plenty of water ; the same with calceolaiias, keep them near the glass. Cyclamen seed should now be sown. After so.ving keep shaded and give plenty of water. O ] d plants : Shake out of their pots if not already done ; re-pot iato smaller pots and start into active growth by giving plenty of water. Keep in a cool shady place ; also give liquid manure made from | cow manure.

Horticultural Society. On Friday and Saturday next the Royal Horticultural Societ.y will hold their annual autumn show of fruits, flowers, vegetables, pot plants, etc., in the Drill shed in Auckland. The above Society have in this show made a new departure in asking the different exhibitors to pay an entrance fee for each exhibit, thus creating what may be termed a sweep for each exhibit, the entrance fees being paid over to the successful competitors in proportion to the number of entries. By the above means eood substantial prizes will be given. The above chango has caused a good deal of discussion and a considerable number do not like this mode of getting prize money, but they must recollect that the Society had no means

to give prizes unless they adopted the above. At the same time it should not be lost bight of that the different shows hold are nob Altogether for the purpose ofghing prizes. / The great aim and object is to promote a/ better knowledge of horticultural matter's, a means of teaching nob only professiana's bub the get eral public what tlie clim/dte can produce. Now, I have always held, that every exhibition does in some way benefit all who take an interest therein, 'although it may only bo in an indirect manner. Those who may object to pay entrance fees should come foi ward and stage any of their products for exhibition only. The judges will have the privilege of judging them also and awarding certificates of merit according to their excellence. Even those entries which arc nob for competition will then have just as much educational oHccb as tho&e that will take prizes. Another change the Society have mado is to appoint ono of the stewards to have ge-eral supervision of the show and to point out to all visitors any objects of special merit. Intending. compo'i ors and exhibitors should get a pchedule and thoroughly master the different conditions under which they will stage, so that the staging may bo done in bime for the judges to beyin their labours at the proper time. The public also should take a gi eater interest in these shows than bhey have in the past, as I have always have held the opinion that bad times would not do so much injury to the colony if more attention were given, to nob only agricultural, bub to horticultural pursuits, and it is only by holding and attending the&e exhibitions that a town population can learn much about those pursuits. Entries will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the 19th. Objects for exhibition will be received up till the judging begins.